Page 45 of Castle of Refuge

“Something I think you will like!”

The men set down the baskets and left. Audrey pulled back the cloth covering on one of them.

“Sweets!” Audrey handed out the sweet cakes, filled with apples and raisins and nuts, to the children.

Lucinda’s eyes and smile were as big as the sky. All the girlstook a cake and ate it quickly, making delighted sounds ofmmand sighing.

When they were all done and were talking of how delicious the cakes were, Audrey gave them each a little wedge of cheese and a roll of bread. They ate that as eagerly as they had eaten the cakes. Audrey felt her suspicions confirmed; these children either were not getting enough food, or the food they were getting was not very filling or tasty.

It took a bit longer than usual to get the children settled into a state where they were able to do their lessons, but they seemed to learn more than any day previous. Some of them were reading their first words by the end of the day.

When she announced it was time for them to go, three of the girls came up to her, doe-eyed and hesitating. Audrey instinctively knew what they wanted. She knelt down and put her arms around the closest one and squeezed her tight, feeling the child’s little hands around her neck. She was smiling when she pulled away. Then one by one, the rest of them came and embraced their teacher, smiling and giggling.

“Thank you, Mistress Audrey,” they said.

“You are most welcome. Now run home and I will see you tomorrow.”

Audrey watched them go skipping away and tears filled her eyes. Was this how God felt when she came to Him and thanked Him for something He had done for her? “Thank You, God,” she whispered. “Thank You.”

***

Edwin watched Audrey, lighting the entire room with her smile, as she entered the library.

“Thank you for the food for the children. I wish you could have seen them.” Audrey’s voice was alive with fervency. A tiny sliver of her scar was visible, but she seemed not to realize it and did not pull at her hair to cover it. Somehow it made her even more endearing.

“They ate their cakes and cheese like they were the best things they’d ever tasted. I wish you had been there,” she repeated.

“I am glad you had the idea. They probably learn better when they are not hungry.”

“I believe that is true. They did seem to catch on to the lessons faster today. One little girl said, ‘This cake tastes like manna from heaven.’ She must have heard the story from the Bible about manna falling from heaven.”

Edwin smiled at the way Audrey clasped her hands in delight. How unusual she was, to get so much pleasure from these villein children. Truly, he had never met anyone like this viscount’s daughter.

“A group of Miracle Players were here last summer who acted out the story of Moses, and they demonstrated the manna from heaven as being like little cakes.”

“Will you allow me to feed the children every day of our lessons?”

Edwin could imagine how his father would have reacted to this request. He’d once heard his father say that he fed the poor on holidays, and that if he fed them every day they would grow fat and lazy. He was not a ruthless man, but he was also not themost charitable. He certainly did not believe in thinking of villeins as equal with himself.

Once one of Edwin’s brothers asked their father about the verse in the Bible that says God is no respecter of persons and that we should not treat a well-dressed man with more deference than a poorly dressed man.

Edwin’s father had said, “Should we treat our servants and villeins as if they were dukes and bishops? Don’t be absurd. That is... Well, it is treason, encouraging rebellion.”

But Edwin was his own man. He could decide what to do, and the Holy Writ had a lot to say about never treating one’s workers unjustly, never withholding wages, and showing kindness and mercy to the poor.

“Yes, you may feed them every day if you like. If Cook needs more servants, tell her she may hire another kitchen servant from the village.”

“Thank you. That is very generous, and I am so grateful.” Without pausing, she said, “I was also wondering if you had any books you would allow me to use to teach them. I noticed you have a copy of the Holy Writ in English. I can make copies of a chapter or two, if you have no objections.”

“Of course. I will supply you with materials. But why not allow me to hire a scribe to make copies for you? Which books would you prefer to have?”

Audrey’s eyes went wide. “Oh, thank you! That is wonderful. Let me think.” She tapped her finger against her chin. “The Psalms would be good. But I think a story would be better. The Gospels have a lot of stories in them, stories about Jesus, but alsoparables.” She paused a moment. “I believe the book of Luke would be best for the children to learn. It is written in a straightforward way that will be easier for them to understand.”

“Very well. I shall have copies made.”

“Thank you. I am so grateful.” Audrey clasped her hands in front of her chest again. The look in her eyes made his chest ache. “But I know the copies will take time, so if you could have them copy a few chapters at a time so that we can get them more quickly...”

“Of course. I shall find the scribes and it shall be done as soon as possible.” At that moment he would have promised her anything.